St Patrick’s Day enthusiasts needed the luck of the Irish when they tried to enrol more than 1,000 people to create the biggest human shamrock to break a Guinness World Record.

On Saturday they made their formation on Tynemouth Longsands beach in an attempt to smash the standing record of 815 people.

But Tynemouth Green Day organisers were left green with envy when they had to accept defeat when 529 turned up.

Now they have vowed to come back next year in their bid to beat the world record set by the students of Blackrock College, in Dublin, in March 2013.

“We didn’t manage to break the world record but we managed to create the largest human shamrock in England with 529 taking part, which is fantastic,” said event organiser, Irishman Maurice Duffy.

“Maybe if the sun was shining we might have attracted a few hundred more. However, everyone who came had a great day and we will be back next year to see if we can break the world record in 2017,” added Maurice.

The record breaking feat was among a number of events taking place to help raise money for two charities - St Oswald’s Hospice and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

While St Patrick’s Day fell on Thursday, March 17, the activities were planned two days later on the Saturday to allow as many people as possible to attend.

The day also included a 2.5km and a 5km run, Gaelic football, a ceilidh band, Irish dancers and an Irish fancy dress dog competition.

The programme was organised by Tynemouth businessman, Maurice, and sponsored by his company Blackswan and Longsands-based restaurant Crusoes.

Maurice plans an event each year to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Three years ago, he also launched the Lionra Irish North East business network to raise funds for charity.

A special feature of Tynemouth Green Day is the 2.5km Moyra’s Green Run. Moyra is the mother of Maurice’s wife, Karen Lee.

“She has been attending St Oswald’s Hospice in Gosforth regularly. St Oswald’s provides specialist palliative care to adults and children from the North East and is the first of our chosen charities.

“We have also chosen to support the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the only UK-wide charity making a daily difference to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis, and those who care for them.”

Maurice added: “The atmosphere was great and 13-year-old Lottie Tickner won the 2.5km run, she was incredibly fast. We have buckets loads of cash and we hope to have raised at least a couple of thousand pound.”